Which all-time RB would you start a franchise with

These are the ONLY running backs in NFL history to amass over 10,000+ rushing yards and average 2,000+ yards from scrimmage per 16 games played in their top 5 seasons (also with touchdown average per 16 games).

1. Barry Sanders - 2,332 - 13
2. Marshall Faulk - 2,214 - 16
3. Jim Brown - 2,193 - 15
4. LaDanian Tomlinson - 2,129 - 20
5. Walter Payton - 2,083 - 12
6. Edgerrin James - 2,077 - 14
7. Tiki Barber - 2,064 - 10
8. Eric Dickerson - 2,033 - 14
9. Emmitt Smith - 2,024 - 18
10. O.J. Simpson - 2,021 - 9

Honorable mentions;
11. Thurman Thomas - 1,943 - 11
Priest Holmes - 2037 - 17 (under 10,000 rushing yards)

^ These are the 12 most productive RBs in league history.

The only other running backs (besides the ten in the poll, minus Jim Brown and O.J. Simpson) to amass over 15,000 yards from scrimmage are;

Marcus Allen
Curtis Martin
Thurman Thomas
Tony Dorsett
Warrick Dunn
Jerome Bettis

Honorable mentions; Rickey Watters, Franco Harris, Fred Taylor, John Riggins, Ottis Anderson, Corey Dillon, Roger Craig, Herschel Walker, Ernest Byner, Eddie George, Jamal Lewis, Earl Cambell, Clinton Portis, Terrell Davis, Gale Sayers

Check here for any questions regarding statistics http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/yds_from_scrimmage_career.htm

Something to think about, Jim Brown did what he did in the 12 games a season and 14 games a season era. Plus he never missed a game in his career while amassing 2,008 yards from scrimmage per 16 games, which is best all-time.

Huge LT fan, but i would go with Jim Brown, and his 5 yard average per carry.

Jim Brown IMO, no doubt.

Jim Brown or Walter Payton, if I could get the 90's Cowboys offensive line I'd take Emmitt .

gale sayers should be on there befre tiki barber

KOBEARODLT said:

gale sayers should be on there befre tiki barber

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Gale Sayers had under 5,000 yards in his career in 7 seasons. Great runner, but not top ten, IMO. I guess he coulod have been an honorable mention, but there are many worthy players I had to leave off.

i guess im more just trying to say tiki barber in now way deserves to be on that list

KOBEARODLT said:

i guess im more just trying to say tiki barber in now way deserves to be on that list

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15,000+ yards from scrimmage. Top ten all-time. I have to disagree.

Sayers > Barber

Roger Craig.

ross9013 said:

Sayers > Barber

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yeah anybody who has tiki in top ten is out of there mind, ...but with that said i would take walter payton, but I think LT will be one of the top 3 rbs of all time when its said and done

Sayers was an absolute monster in his short career. If it wasn't for injuries he'd be in everyones top five.

Out of the list above I went a different direction then most people will go. I would have a pass oriented/west coast type of offense. Marshall Faulk in his prime is best for that type of offense. He can catch and run.

Ryo1549 said:

Out of the list above I went a different direction then most people will go. I would have a pass oriented/west coast type of offense. Marshall Faulk in his prime is best for that type of offense. He can catch and run.

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yeah faulk was the man in his prime, but if i had to pick between him and LT i would go LT

by the way earl cambell deserves to be up there to above thurman for sure.

KOBEARODLT said:

by the way earl cambell deserves to be up there to above thurman for sure.

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You must not know very much about Thurman. The top ten I used as the poll are the best yards from scrimmage runners in history all with over 15,000+. Cambell barely broke 10,000 yards. He was an honorable mention.

sportscardtheory said:

KOBEARODLT said:

by the way earl cambell deserves to be up there to above thurman for sure.

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You must not know very much about Thurman. The top ten I used as the poll are the best yards from scrimmage runners in history all with over15,000+. Cambell barely broke 10,000 yards. He was an honorable mention.

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haha you never watched earl run obviously, maybe the most powerful back to ever play..and not to mention he played 7 years compared to thurman thomas 12 years (in which cambell had 10 more tds in 700 less carries)....top ten from scrimmage dont mean everything..

Payton. Best all-around back ever. Rushing, Receiving, Blocking, Passing...you name it. Dude was the complete package.

KOBEARODLT said:

sportscardtheory said:

KOBEARODLT said:

by the way earl cambell deserves to be up there to above thurman for sure.

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You must not know very much about Thurman. The top ten I used as the poll are the best yards from scrimmage runners in history all with over15,000+. Cambell barely broke 10,000 yards. He was an honorable mention.

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haha you never watched earl run obviously, maybe the most powerful back to ever play..and not to mention he played 7 years compared to thurman thomas 12 years (in which cambell had 10 more tds in 700 less carries)....top ten from scrimmage dont mean everything..

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I didn't say it did, but it certainly entails every aspect of gaining yards, which is what a running backs job is. If the list was the top ten bruising backs, obviously Cambell would be there.